Canandaigua tops Victor at new Victor Aquatics Center

The Canandaigua and Victor swimming and diving teams have faced off in some great meets over the years. So, it was only fitting that the first meet held at the new Victor Aquatics Center was between the rivals.

The Braves picked up the the first win in the pool, 103.5-82.5 on Thursday.

"We wanted to come in here in the first meet at this beautiful facility, and we really wanted to swim some great times, have some good races," Canandaigua coach Bob Black said. "We swam really well. Some of our younger kids really did well, and this is their first Victor meet ever. They performed tremendously, and it was really great to see that."

Senior Sarah Baxter was a double-event winner for the Braves, while senior Kylie Loforte, senior Alyssa Baker and sophomore Serica Hallstead all posted wins in individual events. Hallstead recorded a score of 269.20 in diving, topping her Canandaigua school record of 263.80 that she set earlier in the week.

Blue Devils coach Christine Phelps was excited to finally hold a meet in the new facility. Victor practiced at Canandaigua for two weeks in the preseason, then spent the rest of the season at the Calkins Road Middle School pool in Pittsford. When asked what improved with the new facility Phelps answered, "Everything."

"There's natural light; obviously we have two more lanes and a separate diving space," she said. "Theoretically, when you're in a six-lane pool you have four lanes to train in and you have two lanes for diving. Here we have eight lanes to train in and we don't have to use any space for diving."

Sophomore Natalie Zaravella was a double-event winner for Victor, while senior Jessica Halladay and freshman Abby Fenn won individual events.

Canandaigua's 200 medley relay team of Abbie Sullivan, Baker, Ware and Ringhoff won with a time of 1:55.14, beating Victor by less than a second (1:55:63). Baxter won the 200 free (1:58.96) and 100 free (54.31); Loforte won the 50 free (26.15); and Baker won the 100 butterfly (103.8). The 200 free relay team of Sarah Jane Wied, Baker, Loforte and Baxter took first (1:43.71); and the 400 free relay team of Sullivan, Loforte, Turek and Baxter took first (3:48.04).

"I think we did really well, we had really positive attitudes going into this meet," Sullivan said. "It was really exciting, especially for my senior year. I think we're improving a lot in every meet, and I think we have a good outlook. I'm really excited."

Zaravella won the 200 individual medley (2:14.56) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.94); Halladay won the 500 free (5:24.66); and Fenn won the 100 backstroke (1:02.64).